Brussels is giving Switzerland the cold shoulder

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Martina Hirayama, Director of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation BFI.

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“Made impossible as a negotiating partner”: SP National Councilor Nussbaumer.

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THOMAS LUETHI

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“Many have warned against this again and again”: FDP parliamentarian Portmann.

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Brussels sees it differently. Bern is now waiting for the results of the negotiations. State Secretary Livia Leu represents Switzerland.

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No matter how difficult it is for the parties and the Federal Council to be involved in European policy, the federal government definitely wants to be part of “Horizon Europe”, the EU’s gigantic research program. Parliament has reserved more than six billion francs as a contribution.

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In purely formal terms, the framework agreement and Horizon are not linked to one another – but now Brussels is using access to the program to build up pressure. Negotiations about Swiss participation in Horizon are blocked. Even more: Martina Hirayama (51), State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), is currently not even getting an appointment with the responsible Brussels officials. SonntagsBlick learned this from several sources. “To date, the EU has refused to start informal exploratory talks with Switzerland and makes them dependent on progress made in the institutional agreement,” admits the State Secretariat upon request. That means: without clarity in the framework agreement, there will be no discussions about Horizon.

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The state government has always emphasized that the two dossiers are not linked. The EU sees this – once again – a little differently.
The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation does not expect negotiations to begin until April at the earliest. However, it is emphasized that local scientists can already enter projects.

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However, it is uncertain whether money will actually flow out of Europe one day. Funding from Brussels can only come about if there is an association agreement for Horizon, writes the SERI. And that’s exactly what the EU doesn’t even want to discuss at the moment. If necessary, Parliament has already reserved funds to fill possible loopholes. Of course, these contributions cannot replace membership in Horizon.

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Brussels has run out of patience

Foreign politicians react in consternation to the deadlock. “The EU’s stance may seem cheeky, but it just shows that Switzerland has made itself impossible as a negotiating partner,” says SP National Councilor Eric Nussbaumer (60, BL). Patience in Brussels was exhausted. «There was one last delay in the run-up to the vote on the limitation initiative. The EU held back with comments on the framework agreement. ” But after the failure of the SVP proposal at the ballot box, the Federal Council failed to make a clear announcement.

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But when State Secretary Livia Leu (60), who is currently negotiating the framework agreement with the EU, presents her results, the government must show its colors. “That’s late enough,” says Nussbaumer. The liberal National Councilor Hans-Peter Portmann (58) warns: “Research under the umbrella of Horizon has long since started, including projects on Covid drugs.” One has to be honest, the unresolved relationship with the European Union is damaging Switzerland, in this case the research location of all things. “Many people, including myself, have repeatedly warned against this,” says Portmann.

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The Horizon maneuver is unlikely to improve the domestic political chances of the framework agreement.

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Published: March 14th, 2021, 32 minutes ago

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